Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus Scientific name definitions

Tropical Kingbird is one of the most widespread and conspicuous inhabitants of open forest, forest edge, scrub and agricultural land from the southwestern United States south to Argentina. Found in most climatic regimes—from deserts to wet lowlands to altitudes of more than 3,000 meters—it is common along roadsides and in open areas and appears to thrive in gardens, plazas, and other landscapes modified by humans. It is one of the best-known birds throughout its range because it tends to perch in open view, such as on wires, even in the heat of the day. Its long sallies after flying insects and aggressive chases of potential nest predators also attract attention. Tropical Kingbird is resident across most of its range, although both the northernmost and southernmost populations are migratory. Populations that breed in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico migrate south in the northern winter, and as birds that breed from southern Bolivia south to Argentina migrate north to Amazonia for the austral winter.

The Tropical Kingbird is ecologically and behaviorally similar to many other kingbirds in the genus Tyrannus. It is extremely similar in appearance especially to Couch's Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii), and the two species are best distinguished in the field by voice. Many kingbirds may choose similar habitats, although the Tropical may be the most closely associated with human landscapes. Even so, different species often nest near each other, with few overt aggressive interactions (Phillips et al. 1964a Phillips, A. R., J. T. Marshall Jr., and G. B. Monson (1964). The Birds of Arizona. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ, USA. Close ).

Studies of flycatcher foraging in South America have shown the Tropical Kingbird to be among the most specialized of flycatchers, foraging almost exclusively by sallying after large flying insects (Fitzpatrick 1980a Fitzpatrick, J. W. (1980) Foraging behavior of Neotropical tyrant flycatchers. Condor 82: 43-57. Close , Fitzpatrick 1981 Fitzpatrick, J. W. (1981). Search strategies of tyrant flycatchers. Animal Behaviour 29:810-821. Close ). This specialization may allow it to overlap with other Tyrannus species, which use other foraging techniques and eat a wider variety of prey. Like its congeners, however, the Tropical Kingbird also regularly supplements its diet with fruit.

Despite its abundance, the Tropical Kingbird has been the focus of little detailed study. Its systematics, both within the species and with Couch's Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii), have been difficult to untangle (Traylor 1979e Traylor, Jr., M. A. (1979e). Two sibling species of Tyrannus (Tyrannidae). Auk 96:221-233. Close ). Its general behavior and breeding biology were described by Skutch (Skutch 1954b Skutch, A. F. (1954b). Life history of the Tropical Kingbird. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.Y. 63-65:21-38. Close , Skutch 1960b Skutch, A. F. (1960b) Life histories of Central American birds. II. Pacific Coast Avifauna 34. Close ). Its behavior, especially displays and vocalizations, was compared to that of other Tyrannus species by Smith (Smith 1966d Smith, W. J. (1966d). Communication and relationships in the genus Tyrannus. Publications of the Nuttall Ornithological Club 6:1-250. Close ). Many other aspects of its biology have received only cursory attention. Despite this dearth of basic information, this species would be an ideal one in which to examine geographic variation or how sympatric congeners coexist.